Action needed to prevent further food sector Covid-19 outbreaks

Confirmed outbreaks at both 2 Sisters in Llangefni and Rowan Foods in Wrexham are a worrying development on the day Wales announced further measures to ease the lockdown.

Unite Wales regional secretary Peter Hughes commented; “These significant coronavirus outbreaks are extremely concerning for our members at both 2 Sisters and Rowan Foods, and indeed for any worker employed in the food production sector in Wales. Clearly food production is especially susceptible to Covid19 outbreaks, as these cases and those across the UK and the wider world reflect.

 "We are calling upon Welsh Government to convene a crisis meeting of Wales key food sector employers and trade unions to ensure everything is being put in place to protect staff and prevent the spread on the virus to the wider community.

 "A rigorous and speedy assessment of the adequacy of the sectors Covid19 preventative measures is urgently needed. Unite will always hold employers to account where they fall short in protecting staff. At this time of national crisis ensuing that accountability is upheld has never been more important.

 "We of course support the First Ministers road map out of lock down that he outlined today. This spike in cases in the food sector cannot be allowed to spread and jeopardise our nation’s gradual return to normality”.